The long-time WLOSer just announced it on his Facebook page: He’s Seattle bound and will be working for KOMO-TV starting next month:

I’m so excited to finally be able to share some exciting news! I’m heading to Seattle. I’ll be the new weekend co-anchor for KOMO-TV. My last day at WLOS is Feb 8th and I leave for Seattle Feb 10th! I can’t thank you all enough for being such wonderful friends and viewers. Western North Carolina and everyone who lives here will always have a special place in my heart….

Russ is a co-anchor for News 13 on My40 at 10 p.m. and reports daily for News 13. He started at WLOS as Bureau Chief of the Western Carolina News Center.

Russ broke the story to the nation about a mountain preacher who told his congregation if they voted for John Kerry they needed to “come to the altar and repent or resign.” He was also the first reporter to step inside the controversial Washington D.C. townhouse where several members of congress live.

Russ is no stranger to the Tar Heel state. He grew up in Eastern North Carolina, and came to the mountains from WCTI-TV in New Bern. Russ is an eight-time Emmy Award winner who’s won four N.C. Associated Press Awards.

He has a B.A. from UNC-Wilmington in Mass Communication, and a B.A. in Media Studies with a concentration in Journalism from UNC-Greensboro, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

WLOS just lost its best reporter. Ashvegas wishes Bowen the very best of luck in Seattle.

Comments (12)

Russ, I remember when you interviewed me during the 2004 hurricanes, Frances and Ivan. You came to Clyde and showed respect to those of us who lost so much. I will miss your integrity, your smile and great reporting. Seattle has gained a GREAT asset…Asheville and Haywood County will miss you!

Mr. Bowen is average at best. A few years back he mis-represented many facts, and totally ignored the law regarding hunting and firearms, in order to sensationalize a one sided account of an event that occurred on the French Broad river. When approached about the incorrect information in the story, he was unprofessional and unwilling to even listen to an alternate account by people involved. If he is “one of Asheville’s best journalists”, then that is a sad indicator of the state of journalism in the city and region. It is not surprising given the state of journalism nationally. I’m happy to see Mr. Bowen go, and give someone else a chance to report and inform in a more professional manner is his place.

I’m curious as to what he got wrong. I live in the Seattle area and he is a news reporter. Did he have his own show there in Asheville and gave his own opinion on things? He reports what he is told to. I’m thinking its more so you just don’t want there to be more gun laws like most people in that area of the country. I’m all for people defending themselves BUT there should be better back ground checks. Maybe even a short psych questionnaire. The shootings that happened in our country in the last few years were done by people who bought these guns legally. Why is a fishing store selling automatic rifles? Why unless your in the armed forces do you need one. There’s no reason to own one of these kinds of guns. When he reports the news here it’s a reporter doing what he does. Reporting the news. He’s always professional. It seems you just don’t want better gun control